Pocket-sized user interface for internet browser terminals and the like

ABSTRACT

A Pocket-sized User Interface for Internet Browser Terminals and the Like is disclosed. The disclosed interface provides a plurality of pre-programmed as well as user-programmable touch-sensitive switches that integrate with frequently-used browser functions. The disclosed touch-sensitive switch functions may be responsive to the application that the user is interfacing with. A critical aspect of the disclosed interface is that the housing be less than about 0.45 inches in thickness, and further be roughly the length and width of a standard business card. Also disclosed is an attachment means for attaching the keypad of the present interface to one&#39;s arm or leg, or other structure, such as a monitor, keyboard, desktop or other surface. Still further disclosed is a keypad that is in wireless communication with a browser terminal, and that further includes a user display for displaying pertinent information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to computer user interfaces, includingthe convergence of computer technology into televisions, telephones,videogames and other consumer electronics, and more specifically, to aPocket-sized User Interface for Internet Browser Terminals and the Like.

2. Description of Related Art

Personal computers have indisputably revolutionized the world, havingapplications suited for nearly every aspect of our daily lives. One ofthe most significant ongoing developments of the personal computer dealswith the "Internet." Even though the Internet is only just beginning tobe fully developed and exploited to its full potential, a largepercentage of our population has found many uses for it. It seems thatone can find nearly any resource on the Internet and, therefore, peopleare spending more and more time "surfing" the `Net.

Surfing the Net describes a person exploring the vast data resourcesavailable on the Internet via an "Internet browser." Internet browsersare software applications that are specially designed to allow users tobrowse, view, download and otherwise manipulate the data available onthe Internet. There are a handful of browsers that have attained widesuccess in the Internet market; these browsers have become somewhatstandardized in their functionality, although there continues to berefinement and expansion from the original packages. This browsersoftware is now becoming a cross-platform operating system that is beingused off the Internet in local and wide area networks (Intranets).

Until now, the majority of terminals for access to the Internet havebeen personal computers. It is common for today's personal computers toinclude a keyboard and a pointing device, such as a "mouse,""trackball," or the like. These keyboards are also the devices thatusers employ to use the computer--for such things as word processing,drawing, or even playing games. Keyboards are well suited in most casesfor these applications, where a wide range of functionality is needed.

Internet browsers, on the other hand, do not mandate this broadapplicability. As a typical person browses the Web or an Intranet, onlya small percentage of his or her actions require the fill keyboard of apersonal computer. Much of that person's activities comprise the use ofa series of pre-programmed functions available through the browserapplication, one need only press a screen representation of a singlebutton or series of buttons to activate the desired function.

Indeed, there are problems with the use of keyboards for browserinterface. First, the aspects of convenience and speed. A typicalgraphical-interface browser has preprogrammed functions that appear asbuttons, either on the command border to the browser, or as included ata particular Web site that is being viewed. In order to activate thispreprogrammed function with a conventional keyboard/pointer arrangement,one must manually move the arrow on the screen (with the pointer) to thedesired button representation, and then depress it. This can betime-consuming and even physically exhausting for users who spend asignificant amount of time "surfing." A user interface that is tailoredto browser applications, including keys or touch-pads corresponding tothe pre-programmed functions used by the browser, would be very helpfulin this regard.

A second problem of the conventional keyboard/pointer arrangement isthat of functionality. While, as discussed above, the keyboard is suitedfor a wide variety of applications, it is not tailored to any oneapplication in particular. In the case of operating a browser, such aswhen surfing the Net, users frequently perform a small group of actions.As stated above, the conventional keyboard/pointer does not typicallyprovide any "shortcuts" to perform these activities. The conventionalkeyboard/pointer user must manually select, or type in the desiredaction each and every time that the action is desired, the amount ofmovement required to "click on" scroll bars, forward and back buttons,and the like, can be very inconvenient when doing so on the terminalscreen, particularly when the user must switch to the keyboard to select"hot keys." A user interface with pre-programnned function keys or padsthat would cause the browser to execute common functions would be veryhelpful with this problem.

A third, and very serious, problem with conventional keyboards is aphysical ailment known as carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel syndromeis a type of tendonitis, or inflammation of the tendons, in the hand.CTS (carpal tunnel syndrome) has been linked to long-term use ofcomputer keyboards, and has become a serious health problem forindividuals and, consequently, a serious and expensive liability forcorporations with alot of computer users. CTS can result from the uniquehand position required to operate a conventional keyboard. The act ofholding one's fingers poised and depressing the keyboard's keys for longhours can irritate some of the hand's tendons. The remedy for CTS hasbeen for computer users to wear wrist braces that help to support thehands and thereby reduce the tendons' irritation. The problem with thesebraces is that they significantly reduce the person's hand mobility anddexterity. If the user interface was configured so that it could be heldin one's hand, laid on one's lap or strapped around one's wrist, itwould virtually eliminate the hazard of acquiring CTS while surfing theNet. An interface such as this would also reduce the shoulder and neckstrain that commonly results from keeping one's arms and shoulders inone position for long periods of time.

Another prior computer-user interface is a "joystick." These devices areprimarily configured for interaction with computer games, or "videogames." A wide variety of joysticks are available on the market today,with a series of shapes and functionality's being available. Thesejoysticks are very well suited for use with video games, and moreenjoyment can be obtained by playing these video games through the useof a joystick. The basic joystick includes a base with a hand-gripconfigured pointing device. The hand grip typically includes at leastone button that is generally used to simulate a trigger while playing agame. Many times the base will also include other buttons for additionalfunctionality. Again, these joysticks are very well suited for playingvideo games, they are unsuitable for surfing the Net. Although benefitscould be achieved by the large hand-grip pointing device, the joystickwill not provide sufficient programmability or functionality to trulyoptimize Net surfing or other browser or application interface.Furthermore, the joystick is much too large to be an efficient browserinterface, since the standard keyboard would still be needed, thejoystick would add unnecessary clutter to the desktop. Anapplication-specific user interface for use with browser terminals thatis smaller than a joystick would solve this problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In light of the aforementioned problems associated with the priordevices, it is an object of the present invention to provide apocket-sized user interface for world-wide web terminals and the like,such as personal computers, televisions, telephones, videogames andother consumer electronics. It is a further object that the userinterface provide a series of pre-programmed as well as programmablekeys that integrate with frequently-used browser functions. Stillfurther, the present interface should be less than about 0.45 inches inthickness and be roughly the length and width of a standard businesscard. One type of embodiment may include an attachment means forattaching the keypad of the interface to one's arm or leg or otherstructure, such as a monitor, keyboard, desktop or other surface. Afurther object is that the keypad be in wireless communication with thebrowser terminal, in order to reduce workspace clutter. Anotherpreferred embodiment may include a user display on the keypad to displaypertinent information to the user.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and features of the present invention, which are believed tobe novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Thepresent invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation,together with further objects and advantages, may best be understood byreference to the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a collection of views of the prior art and a preferredembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, depicting one mode of using the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention depicting a preferred arrangement of the face features;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, further depicting a preferred attaching means; and

FIG. 5 is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention,highlighting the functional arrangement of controls.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description is provided to enable any person skilled inthe art to make and use the invention and sets forth the best modescontemplated by the inventor of carrying out his invention. Variousmodifications, however, will remain readily apparent to those skilled inthe art, since the generic principles of the present invention have beendefined herein specifically to provide a Pocket-sized User Interface forInternet Browser Terminals and the Like.

The present invention can best be understood by initial consideration ofFIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a collection of views of the prior art and a preferredembodiment of the present invention. A conventional keyboard 10 isdisplayed at roughly 1/3rd of actual size. Also depicted is arepresentation of a conventional joystick 20, also at roughly 1/3rd ofactual size. Further depicted is a conventional mouse 25, which is alsoshown at roughly 1/3rd of actual size. As can be seen the keypad 30 ofthe present invention, which is also roughly 1/3rd of actual size, ismuch more compact than the keyboard 10 or the joystick 20 or the mouse25. It is for this reason that the keypad 30 of the present inventioncan provide such significant advantages.

By now turning to FIG. 2, one may gain an understanding of one preferredarrangement for connecting the present invention to a browser terminal.Depicted in FIG. 2 is a typical browser terminal 40, in this case, apersonal computer having a conventional keyboard 10. As can be seen, thekeypad 30 has a first communicating means 42 extending from it. In theembodiment depicted, the first communicating means 42 is wires, otherembodiments are available that include some sort of wireless means ofcommunication, such as optical and radio frequency transmission, amongothers.

The first communicating means 42 may lead to the translator 44. Thetranslator 44 takes user input from the keypad 30 and translates it intosignals that are useable by the browser terminal 40. The translator 44box depicted is merely one embodiment, other preferred translators couldbe part of the keypad 30 or even installed into the browser terminal 40.

Leading from the translator 44 to the browser terminal 40 is a secondcommunicating means 46. As with the first communicating means 42, thesecond communicating means could be wires or wireless, such as optical,radio frequency signals, among others well known in the art.

FIG. 3 provides additional detail regarding the keypad 30. FIG. 3 is aperspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present inventiondepicting a preferred arrangement of the face features. In a preferredform, the keypad 30 comprises a thin housing 48. This housing 48 may bemade from many conventional materials, such that a light-weight, durablestructure is created; in the present form it is plastic. On the face ofthe housing 48 are disbursed a plurality of buttons 50 and a pointer 52.These buttons 50 may be in a variety of forms, including keys orbuttons, touchpads, or other touch-sensitive switches. The pointer 52depicted here is akin to a miniature joystick. The pointer 52 may bepivoted around its axis with a user's finger to provide directionalinput to the browser terminal (not shown). Other types of pointers 52may be used, including trackballs, touch pads, and the like.

A further aspect shown in FIG. 3 is the display 54. The display 54 maybe located in virtually any position on the housing 48. The purpose ofthe display 54 is to provide information to the user. Examples ofdesirable information might be elapsed time or time of day, status orstrength of the keypad's connection to the browser terminal, as well asthe URL address, among many other bits of information. The display 54should be fairly small, to retain the compact form of the keypad 30.

Included in the present invention, but not shown in FIG. 3 is a varietyof indicia disposed on the buttons 50 and the face of the housing 48.Indicia may be inscribed on these surfaces to provide informationregarding the functionality of the keypad 30, or merely just foraesthetic purposes.

An additional feature of the present invention is its attachability toexternal structures. FIG. 4 illuminates this feature. FIG. 4 is a frontelevation of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, furtherdepicting a preferred attaching means 56. As can be seen from thedrawing, the attaching means 56 may be fixed to the bottom side of thehousing 48. The attaching means 56 could be in a variety of forms,including a rigid clip, a flexible cuff or sleeve, a strap with "Velcro"or snaps, etc. The attaching means 56 could be used to attach the keypad30 to one's wrist, arm, leg or even some desktop or chair-typestructure. Once attached to the external structure, the keypad 30 wouldbe very easy to locate and use. This would help to reduce workspaceclutter.

The specific functionality of the present invention may be bestappreciated by consideration of FIG. 5. FIG. 5 shows that the buttonsand pointer are divided into 3 functional groups. These groups areprovided to give users the convenience of having like controls groupedintuitively. Other arrangements of groups may be provided, such as forkeypads 30 that are configured for specifically one type of browser.

The control group 58 is a portion of the keypad that handles"high-level" communications with the browser terminal. Single-keyfunctions that can be found within the control group 58 include:"Search" which launches a preferred search engine from the browser;"iNet/eMail" which launches a user's email software or browser,alternately, "Mode" which may enable or disable the on-screen display ofa browser's tool bars at the top of the screen (in order to provide afull-screen view); "PG UP" and "PG DN" provide for quick traversingthrough a multi-paged on-screen document, one page at a time; "Scrolland "Scroll .arrow-down dbl." permit the user to scroll up and down thedisplayed web page by a line at a time, or continuously, and "Shift"which may be depressed prior to one of the other pre-programmed buttonsin order to access a secondary function assigned to that particularbutton or other touch-sensitive switch.

The user-programmable group 60 is a series of user-programmable buttonsthat can be configured for a variety of "shortcut" internetapplications, such as going to the user's favorite news and informationsite, accessing a preferred page location, getting a stock quotation orreviewing a stock portfolio; the possibilities are virtually limitless.

The navigating group 62 is a series of buttons that allow a user tomaneuver efficiently through a particular document being viewed in anefficient manner. The navigating group 62 also includes the pointer (seeFIG. 4) and "left" and "right" "mouse buttons," allowing the user fullmouse functionality in a more ergonomically desireable interface. Bothmouse buttons are programmable and interchangeable, such that either orboth can perform any standard mouse button function. The other buttonscomprising the navigating group 62 may provide the following functions:

Back"--may take the user back to the previous "web page" that was viewedduring a particular session

"Home"--may return the user to a pre-selected home page

"Fwd"--may take the user forward to a previous web page that was viewedduring a particular session (i.e. after going "Back")

"Learn"--may be a programmable function when programming one of thebuttons in the User-programmable Group 60. Alternately, it might beassigned to the secondary function of a button (accessed by firstselecting the "Shift" button).

"Reload"--may reload the current web page again

"Stop"--may interrupt the transfer of information to the terminal in use

"Print"--may cause the printing of the web page being viewed. It may beassigned to the secondary function, accessed by first selecting the"shift" function.

"Enter"--may allow a user to open a networked document or application orto select an on-screen object upon which the pointer is indicating (i.e.clicking on something). The pointing device depicted in FIGS. 1-5 isonly one preferred embodiment, other embodiments might include atrackball-type pointing device or even a conventional rolling mouse-typepointing device, such as used in the mouse 25 (see FIG. 1).

Other functionality may be available in other embodiments of the presentinvention, depending upon the particular application intended for thekeypad. The present invention may include embodiments that willfacilitate the interface with browser software "terminals" that comprisetelevisions, telephones, video game units and other consumer products,in addition to personal computers. By moving the software functions ofan Internet browser onto a convenient, easy-to-use, hand-held or mounteddevice, the present invention will provide users with significantadvantages over current means for interfacing with browsers.

The ability to control the Internet browser function from a pocket-sizeddevice is a capability unique to the present invention. This permits theuse of full-screen viewing of web page content and easier intuitivecontrol of browser functions.

It is the intent of the inventor that the present invention not belimited to interfacing with only "Internet browsers," Preferredembodiments of the present invention include interfaces matched tobrowsers that are configured to perform as computer operating systems,as well as other applications. The present invention is specificallyintended to be applied anywhere that a browser, or graphical userinterface, is used; examples might be word processing programinterfaces, spread sheet program interfaces, and any number of otherprogram applications.

It is anticipated that the particular functionality of the buttons ortouch-sensitive switches disposed upon the keypad 30 might be responsiveto the application that the user is interfacing with. For example, aparticular button might activate the "paste" function while the user isinterfacing with a word processor program, however the identical buttonmay activate the "stop" function when interfacing with an Internetbrowser. In such circumstances, the labels on or above eachtouch-sensitive switch might also change with the function of eachtouch-sensitive switch.

Furthermore, those skilled in the art will appreciate that variousadaptations and modifications of the just-described preferred embodimentcan be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of theinvention. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope ofthe appended claims, the invention may be practiced other than asspecifically described herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A user interface for at least one browserterminal, each said terminal providing, users interface to browsersoftware applications, comprising:a pocket-sized keypad for acceptinguser input to at least one browser terminal, comprising:a pocket-sizedhousing, further having a face and a plurality of touch-sensitiveswitches disbursed across said face and arranged in functional groups,said groups comprising a user-programmable group, a control group andone navigating group to accept user input to select said browserfunctions; andsaid control group comprises a Find/Search switch, an iNetEMail switch, a Shift switch, a Mode switch, a PG UP switch, a Scroll ↑switch, a PG DN switch and a Scroll ↓ switch; and said navigating groupcomprises a Back switch, a Home switch, a Fwd switch, an Enter switch, aReload switch, a Stop switch, a Left switch and a Right switch; atranslator for receiving said user input from said keypad andtranslating said user input into browser software-specific commands foruse by at least one browser terminal; a first communicating means forsaid keypad to communicate with said translator; second communicatingmeans for said translator to communicate with at least one browserterminal; and said keypad further comprises at least one pointer devicelocated on said housing to assist user input to select said browserfunctions and said keyboard functions.
 2. The interface of claim 1,further comprising attaching means for attaching said keypad to a user'shand, arm or leg.
 3. The interface of claim 1, further comprising apointing device.
 4. The interface of claim 1, wherein said face furthercomprises a display portion for displaying pertinent messages.
 5. Theinterface of claim 4, wherein said translator further receivesinformation from at least one browser terminal and translates saidreceived information for use by said keypad.
 6. The interface of claim1, wherein said housing is between 0.05 and 0.45 inches in thickness. 7.A system for providing users with an application-specific interface toat least one browser terminal, comprising:a keypad for accepting userinput to said at least one browser terminal, comprising:a pocket-sizedhousing further having a face and a plurality of touch-sensitiveswitches disbursed across said face and arranged in functional groups,said groups comprising a user-programmable group, a control group andone navigating group to accept user input to select said browserfunctions; andsaid control group comprises a Find/Search switch, an iNetEMail switch, a Shift switch, a Mode switch, a PG UP switch, a Scroll ↑switch, a PG DN switch and a Scroll ↓ switch; and said navigating groupcomprises a Back switch, a Home switch, a Fwd switch, an Enter switch, aReload switch, a Stop switch, a Left switch and a Right switch; atranslator for receiving said user input from said keypad andtranslating said user input into browser software-specific commands foruse by at least one browser terminal; a first communicating means forsaid keypad to communicate with said translator; a second communicatingmeans for said translator to communicate with at least one browserterminal; and said keypad further comprises at least one pointer devicelocated on said housing to assist user input to select said browserfunctions and said keyboard functions.
 8. The interface of claim 7,further comprising attaching means for attaching said keypad to a user'shand, arm or leg.
 9. The interface of claim 8, further comprising apointing device.
 10. The interface of claim 9, wherein said face furthercomprises a display portion for displaying pertinent messages.
 11. Theinterface of claim 10, wherein said translator further receivesinformation from at least one browser terminal and translates saidreceived information for use by said keypad.
 12. The interface of claim11, wherein said housing is between 0.05 and 0.45 inches in thickness.